Baer's Pochard

There may be fewer than 500 of this duck alive in the wild today.

In the fourth year of its waterfowl breeding program, the Wildlife Conservation Societys Central Park Zoo is home to eight rare or endangered species from around the world that have produced chicks this year. With 23 duck species on exhibit, the zoo has the largest public collection of sea ducks in the world.

Critically endangered, Baer's pochard can be seen on exhibit in the zoos Tisch Childrens Zoo and the Temperate Stream adjacent to the red pandas. Native to the wetlands of East, estimates indicate there may be fewer than 500 of these ducks remaining in the wild. Conservationists are uncertain of the causes of its dramatic decline. WCSs Central Park Zoo has had success raising this species in the past and remains one of the few institutions in North America to currently work with this rare diving duck. This year there have been nine chicks that will be on exhibit soon.